I think I hear what you are saying. I don't think there is ANY excuse for what CC did - no matter WHAT was going on or WHO was pressuring him. But I do think there is a lot of evidence that MM was pressuring him. If Sheri found out about the affair and that caused fighting, and CC felt he was stuck in a corner, rage was probably the cause of the mass murder. Rage is NOT an EXCUSE to let CC off, it's just a REASON. MM is not an EXCUSE for CC's actions, it's just a REASON. Excuses and reasons are completely different ways of describing the circumstances that led up to this horrific crime.
I agree with aspects of each side of the coin on this. I agree that TL was a motive at this time but I also think that chris would have found another motive at some other time and probably already had one. He had it in him to murder his whole family and his beautiful little boys. For what? My opinion is that he just didn't want to be married or be saddled with kids. He had an affair with this woman (perhaps others as well), and she, as well as his job, provided the catalyst. He wanted to keep his job and his status as a good "Christian", while still fooling around and living a free life.
Fran noted that he got Sheri off the deed before he began a relationship with TL. That's super interesting to me. I really think this guy was probably fooling around before TL and was thinking of how to get rid of his family
for awhile.
As for TL, it is apparent that she knew full well that chris was still married to and had a family with Sheri. I don't understand wanting a relationship with any friend's ex if she DIDN'T' know. Very weird. But, I don't see how she didn't know. Sure, most cheating husbands don't kill, so I can't blame her directly, at this point, for the murders. Nevertheless, perhaps this provides a lesson that participating in immoral conduct can have consequences worse than ever imagined. This woman can never escape the knowledge that her actions contributed to the deaths of three innocents.